Seattle-based Tenzing Communications, a provider of in-flight access to Web content and e-mail, is teaming with Hughes Global Services to offer global inflight broadband communication services.

Hughes, which provides satellite communication services to companies worldwide, will enable passengers to send and receive e-mail and browse the Internet at speeds up to several megabits per second.

This alliance enables Tenzing to integrate broadband capabilities into its existing onboard systems. By the end of 2001, passengers will be able to choose their connectivity speed and surf the Web in real time, as well as send and receive e-mail from behind corporate firewalls via an onboard virtual private network.